The Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, has said that Enugu State will remain a stronghold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite challenges faced by the party.

Ekweremadu made the declaration in Enugu on Saturday during a stakeholders meeting of the party in preparation for the PDP congresses in the state.

According to him, the PDP has passed through a lot of challenges for some time but we will overcome these problems.

``Enugu has always been a PDP state and will remain a PDP stronghold in the country,’’ he said.

The deputy senate president, however, urged members to comport themselves during the congresses beginning at the ward level, adding that everybody would be carried along.

In his remarks, the former National Chairman of the party, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, commended the state government for sustaining the party in the face of trials.

Nwodo also commended Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on the action taken to address the April 25 invasion in Uzo-Uwani by herdsmen.

He called for support and cooperation of all and sundry in taking the state to greater height.

Ugwuanyi, in his address, expressed his continued support to the party and promised that he would do his best to ensure safety and welfare of people of the state.

According to him, despite the recent attack by suspected herdsmen, the state will remain peaceful.

He thanked the people for their support and cooperation since he assumed office 11 months ago, and called for their fervent prayers to enable his administration fulfill its promises.

Ugwuanyi, however, urged party members to be orderly during the ward congress, saying that it should not be a do or die affair as PDP was one family in the state.

The meeting was attended by members of the national and state assemblies from the state, members of the state executive council, party stalwarts, chairmen of local government caretaker committee and other stakeholders.